Trichostasis spinulosa of the scalp mimicking Alopecia Areata black dots

Alopecia areata is a common autoimmune disorder that leads to nonscarring hair loss. Black dots, also called comedo-like cadaver hairs, can be found in almost 50% of alopecia areata patients and indicate disease activity. Trichostasis spinulosa is a follicular disorder resulting from the retention of numerous hairs surrounded by a keratinous sheath in dilated follicles. Trichostasis spinulosa is a relatively common but underdiagnosed disorder of hair follicles. Here, we describe a man with alopecia areata of the eyebrows, androgenetic alopecia and trichostasis spinulosa at the vertex and show how dermoscopy can be useful in distinguishing black dots from Trichostasis spinulosa lesions.

Mohs micrographic surgery: a study of 83 cases / Cirurgia micrográfica de Mohs: estudo de 83 casos

BACKGROUND: Mohs micrographic surgery can achieve high cure rates in the treatment of skin cancer and remove a minimum of healthy tissue. OBJECTIVES: To characterize patients undergoing Mohs micrographic surgery and study issues related to the number of surgical stages. METHODS: A descriptive, retrospective, cross-sectional study was conducted in a micrographic surgery reference center for the period of 2004 to 2010. Data was collected from medical records of 79 patients (83 surgeries). RESULTS: We studied 43 women and 36 men. The mean age was 57.5 ± 14,6 years. Skin types II and III were the most frequent, accounting for 41% and 36.1%, respectively. The most frequent tumor was the basal cell carcinoma (89.1%), and the solid subtype was the most common (44.6%), followed by sclerodermiform histological subtype (32%).The most frequent location was the nasal region (44.6%). The large majority of the operated tumors were recurrent lesions (72.7%). Half of the tumors measured 2 cm or more. In 68.7% of the cases two or more surgical stages were necessary for the removal of the tumors. The observation period was 2 or more years in 75% of the tumors. There was 01 post-Mohs recurrence and 02 patients had metastases during the observation period (both with squamous cell carcinoma). CONCLUSION: The findings coincide with those of the literature, recurrent tumors and tumors larger than 2cm needed more surgical stages for their removal, although there was no statistic difference (p=0,12 and 0,44 respectively).

FUNDAMENTOS: A cirurgia micrográfica de Mohs é capaz de alcançar altas taxas de cura no tratamento do câncer de pele e remover o mínimo possível de tecido saudável. OBJETIVOS: caracterizar os pacientes submetidos à cirurgia micrográgica de Mohs e estudar aspectos relacionados ao número de fases cirúrgicas. MÉTODOS: trata-se de estudo observacional, transversal e descritivo realizado em serviço de referência para cirurgia micrográfica no período de 2004 a 2010. Foram revisados os prontuários de 79 pacientes (83 cirurgias). RESULTADOS: Foram avaliados 43 mulheres e 36 homens. A média de idade foi 57,5 ± 14,6 anos. Os fototipos II e III foram os mais frequentes, respondendo por 41% e 36,1% respectivamente. O tumor mais freqüente foi o carcinoma basocelular (89,1%), sendo o subtipo sólido o mais frequente (44,6%), seguido pelo esclerodermiforme (32%). A localização mais freqüente foi a nasal (44,6%). A grande maioria dos tumores operados eram recidivados (72,7%). Metade dos tumores mediam 2 cm ou mais. Foram necessárias duas ou mais fases cirúrgicas em 68,7% dos tumores para sua remoção. O tempo de acompanhamento foi igual ou superior a 2 anos em 75%. Houve 01 recidiva pós-Mohs e 02 pacientes apresentaram metástases durante o estudo (ambos carcinomas espinocelulares). CONCLUSÕES: Os achados coincidem com os da literatura, sendo que tumores recidivados e maiores que 2cm necessitaram de mais fases cirúrgicas para sua completa remoção, apesar de não haver diferença estatística (p=0,12 e 0,44, respectivamente).